How to Survive Your Ice
Breaker

No matter what skills you possess as a speaker,
you’re probably going to find it a little stressful to speak for the first time
in front of all these relative strangers. And because you know you’ll be
evaluated as a part of the experience, it can be a frightening few moments of
your life. What can you do to conquer your fear and sail through your first
speech with fun and focus? Here are some quick tips:

Write out your speech in advance.
At least, write down some notes so you can check your organization and make
sure all important facts are included.

Don’t try to memorize the entire
speech. Though you’ll only speak for less than six minutes, once
you stand in front of the crowd, it may seem much longer. Trying to remember
everything while under that kind of stress is asking too much of any first
timer.

Use notes, but avoid too many note
cards. Cards can slip from your fingers or fall out of order at the
wrong moment. They’re not easy to handle when you’re nervous. One long sheet
with large print, or one large card with brightly-colored bullet points to
jog your memory, will serve you better.

Remember that all your listeners
have stood where you stand now. They can all relate to any
nervousness you may be experiencing. Try to think of your audience as your
new friends. See their smiles and pause once in a while during your speech
to make eye contact with them.

Remember that this speech is
merely a way for you to introduce yourself. Pick three or four
important things you’d like your fellow Toastmasters to learn about you and
make those your speech. If you speak on something that you’re passionate
about, you won’t run out of words. So, talk about an exciting adventure from
your past, your hopes, your dreams and maybe your favorite hobby. What
defines you? Talk about it.

Your evaluator is required to find some advice
to offer, so try to take it in the spirit in which it’s being offered. Everyone
in a Toastmasters meeting is there to help everyone else. So, each person gives
and gets advice from time to time. It’s your choice whether or not to follow any
advice you’re given, but if the evaluator is a much more experienced speaker,
you should probably at least consider it. See the “Additional Resources”
section, below, for more tips on reducing nervousness and perfecting a speech.

Don’t forget to take a breath when you stand up
at the lectern. Say hello to everyone…and begin!

Introduction:

This document is a 3 point plan to make your first Prepared Speech as easy and
relaxed as possible. For this to occur you should: Read this document while
preparing for your speech. This will provide guidance and ideas for a
professional and entertaining speech as well as making it an enjoyable
experience. Use this document in conjunction with your Toastmasters manual.

Objectives
· To introduce you to speaking before an audience
· To help you see what your strengths and weaknesses are regarding your
presentations
· To tell us something about yourself
Try a simple structure for your talk. Usually, there are 3 parts:
1. Opening - start with an attention-grabbing opening line or lines
"Well here I am finally doing my ice breaker" I'm the quiet one who
sits at the back and never volunteers for speeches"
2. Body - pick only 3 or 4 main points to discuss. You can talk about where you
went to school, your upbringing, a passion, hobby or interest you have, your
career, etc. But try to focus on one area, and try not to give us too much
detailed information.
The best ice-breakers are usually conversational. Instead of relying on notes,
she used a memorized opening, then talked candidly about her career experiences,
wrapping up with a clever line.
3. Conclusion
This can be a line or lines you've memorized or at least have a definite idea of
your closing line, but try not to read from notes. Eye-contact and presence are
more important.
4. Notes and Tips:
· Nothing warms an audience more than by showing pictures (even if they are in
your wallet) of your family or pets and describing what they mean to you.
· The audience can really feel for you if you mention the dream job for which
you were turned down, or the distrastrous vacation with your best friend last
summer.
· Try to personalize parts as much as possible-Your job, why you enjoy it and
the characters in the office.

Finally:
This is your ice breaker speech, so the evaluator and audience are aware this is
one of the first times you've stepped up in front of the club.

By completing your ice breaker speech you'll gain a brick in the wall of public
speaking. The idea behind Toastmasters is to further your confidence in public
speaking. So with this newfound insight and confidence, it'll be beneficial to
volunteer to be Table Topics, Toastmaster or 'Speaking Tip of The Day' for the
next meeting, while there's momentum. It's like a lot of things in life it's not
as difficult as you think!

Objectives
• To begin Speaking before an audience.
• To help you understand what areas require particular emphasis in your
speaking development.
• To introduce yourself to your fellow club
members.
• TIME: Four to six minutes

By now you’ve
heard speeches by club members and have probably participated in Table Topics.
Here is your opportunity to give your first prepared talk and "break the
ice." The best way to begin your speaking experience is to talk about the
subject closest to you—yourself. At the same time, you will be introducing
yourself to your fellow club members and giving them some understanding of
your background, your interests and your ambitions. As you prepare and deliver
your talk, you will become aware of communication skills you already have and
areas that require some work. "Your fellow
members will help you understand these needs, as they see them.

As you read through this
project, make notes in the margin. Underline the key phrases to help you
quickly review what is expected of you. Define
the project objectives in your own words. After
you have read through the entire project, you’re ready to prepare your first
talk.

Preparing
Your Talk
The general subject of this talk is you. But that subject is too broad
for a short talk—in this case, four to six minutes. Select three or four
interesting aspects of your life that will give your fellow members insight
and understanding of you as an individual. These might include your
birthplace, education or family. Explain how you came to be in your present
occupation, and tell the audience something about your ambitions.

Should you prefer to avoid
autobiography, you might talk about your business, your hobbies, or anything
that relates to you as an individual. Having complete knowledge about your
subject will add greatly to your confidence.

Once you have the highlights
of your talk in mind, weave them into a story, just as if you were telling it
to friends around the dinner table. Share personal experiences of significance
to you. The more personal you make your talk, the warmer will be the
relationship between you and your audience.